2013 Economic Yearbook: Gaining Momentum
Finally, after a recovery that took its own sweet time to develop and progress, there are positive signs from all corners of the state. Not every community is where its leaders would like it to be, but most are better off than they were a year ago.
In Metro Atlanta, healthcare and life sciences are thriving; the big news comes from pharmaceutical giant Baxter International, which will locate a sizable new facility in Stanton Springs Industrial Park at the junction of Walton, Newton and Morgan counties.
Northwest Georgia is benefitting from increased manufacturing activity, especially among carpet and flooring companies. Northeast Georgia is anticipating a raft of suppliers attracted by the new Caterpillar operation.
West Central Georgia is experiencing a resurgence on town squares and in industrial parks, part of the “Kia juggernaut.” Central Georgia is taking a more regional approach to economic development; and East Central Georgia is seeing growth in biofuel projects.
Southwest Georgia reports activity in retail and agriculture, and Southeast Georgia is enjoying the benefits of a diversified economy.
Stories in this year’s Economic Yearbook were reported and written by Jerry Grillo, Ben Young, Kar-en Rosen, Randy Southerland, Christy Simo, Bobby Nesbitt and Don Sadler.
The Simon S. Selig Jr. Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business provided the statistical information for the tables in the yearbook. This edition of the Economic Yearbook divides Georgia’s 159 counties among eight regions introduced in 1996; each table lists counties alphabetically within their region.
Population and income data for 2012 have been projected based on 2008-2011 trends (income) and 2007-2011 trends (population). Per capita personal income estimates were calculated based on re-vised population and income data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Estimates of population and per capita personal income for 2012 are based on extensions of existing trends and reflect growth or decline based on data that already have been recorded.
Total population estimates are based on data through 2011 from the Census Bureau. County population projections for the year 2012 have been controlled to the reported state total for 2012. Employ-ment data are for January-June average covered employment, defined as jobs, by place of work, covered under Georgia’s unemployment insurance law, and are not comparable with other nonagricultural employment statistics.
Employment estimates are based on information through June 2012, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data for per capita personal income, by place of residence, were derived from data through 2011 issued by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and are given in current dollars.
Readers may visit the Selig Center website (www.selig.uga.edu) for additional information.
– Susan Percy, Editor
